Travel Immunizations - What you Really Need in Africa

WORLDWIDE | Friday, 10 July 2009 | Views [1106] | Comments [3]

So nobody likes getting shots but it seems every time you get ready to take a trip overseas you receive a laundry list of recommended immunizations. We asked our adventure friends around the world what they thought and below are their recommendations.

Kent Redding from Africa Adventure Consultants recommends:

Basically, in Africa you don’t want to mess around. We recommend that clients get all the recommended inoculations, which vary by country, but often include, M. Meningitis, typhoid, polio, tetanus, and yellow fever.

Also recommend anti-malaria in almost every location. We even had our kids (ages 4 and 5) get all they could. I’ve had malaria several times and believe me you don’t want to get it. The shots hurt your arm and your pocket book but give you peace of mind and protection while on safari in Africa.

Leslie Nevison from Mamatembo Tours recommends:

The most misinformation that I encounter about an infectious disease is about malaria. Travelers who take an anti-malarial medication often feel more secure than they should about not catching it. They should still cover up bare arms and legs at dusk, use repellent, and sleep under a net as we all do who live in Africa. No meds are 100 % effective. It takes just one infected mosquito.

I have had malaria, once when I was on meds and once when I wasn't. For those of us who spend long periods of time in malaria zones there is the theory that we are better off not taking meds, that they mask the symptoms, but this is an easily regrettable decision when someone close to you is struck down by their next attack. For short term visitors, it should be a much easier decision. Take the medication, cover up at dusk, and sleep under a net.

For my short term safari guests I have always suggested that the rabies vaccine isn't necessary. Yet a recent experience has led me to change my mind. I had the pre-exposure vaccinations myself in 2007. I am not sure exactly what made me decide to have them after ten years on the African continent and 30 years of travel altogether to any number of destinations where rabies is a risk. But I am now thankful I did. While walking in a pleasant rural area of Zambia, I was badly bitten by a local dog.  It was an unprovoked attack and over in minutes. 

I still had to have post-exposure boosters which are readily available in Lusaka but if I had had to seek them in South Africa or elsewhere, the pre-exposure vaccines I had several years ago allowed me greater protection and peace of mind. It is difficult to put a price on peace of mind.

Of course always check with your doctor, but here is a handy list of what jabs are recommended by country from the TravelDoctor.

Looking for me? If you're going on safari in Africa, sort out your immunizations first

Tags: africa, vaccinations, immunizations, malaria, rabies, safari, travel health

Comments

Add your comments

Name:   Email: (optional)  Message:  

Nobody likes spam:  

In order to avoid spam on these blogs, please enter the code you see in the image.
Comments identified as spam will be deleted.

---